Huddersfield take Hart

Neil Hart, who has been the chief executive officer of Burnley FC in the Community for almost six years, will be leaving in March next year to take up the same position with Huddersfield Town Football Club.

He arrived at Burnley from Watford, where he’d been in the same role for eight years, to take over a struggle community scheme at Burnley. He proceeded to take it to a level beyond what anyone could have expected and what was then no more than a couple of staff has grown to the point where over 100 are employed.

Whitehaugh and Leisure Box are two success stories while Burnley Community Kitchen, with whom I’ve become involved, is offering much needed support to so many people in the area who are in need.

Hart is very single minded and ambitious and after 14 years at Watford and Burnley leading the community schemes, he’s now set to take over the running of a football club for the first time.

He said today: “It is with sadness that I leave Burnley FC in the Community for a new challenge at Huddersfield Town. I’ve had six of the most enjoyable and rewarding years of my career in Burnley and I have met and worked with some exceptional people. However, I simply could not turn down this exciting opportunity and I look forward to getting started in March.

“I extend my thanks to every partner who has helped us create something so special at Burnley FC in the Community, from Brian Nelson and the entire Board of Trustees, who have been great champions of our vision for the organisation, to all the staff who work so hard every day to create positive change in our community.”

Speaking to Huddersfield’s official site, he added: “I’m delighted to be joining Huddersfield Town as chief executive. This is an exciting opportunity for me at a club that I believe has a huge potential for success. Huddersfield Town has a reputation for doing things right, but I’m very confident that I can add immediate value to all aspects of the club.”